Two steps forward, one step back!

Everyone told us this journey would be two steps forward and one step back, but it was so hard to believe with all the great forward movement she was making.  Then this week, she went back on CPAP and Marc and I were like, well here is one of her steps back.  Well our little Olivia certainly adds the drama to our life already at such a young age.  I got a call yesterday (Wednesday) morning from the NICU while I was in the shower, asking that I call them back.  Apparently overnight Olivia had more of those breathing/heart rate drops (Dcells), so the nurse on duty decided to take a culture to see if there was an infection.  As is routine, before the culture even came back they started her on antibiotics just to be safe and by mid-afternoon we found out that she did in fact have an infection and she is testing positive for MRSA.  In addition to that, they were going to perform a spinal tap on her to see if she has meningitis too.  Needless to say, my momma heart sank and I spent the better part of yesterday morning crying (this is certainly my new reality--pregnancy hormones have made me a quick crier, which is quite the change from my 1-2 times a year cry before I was pregnant).  I was scared for our little girl, for the spinal tap (aren't those supposed to hurt?), and for knowing if this course of treatment would work. 

By the time I made it to the hospital yesterday, they had a bunch of new information for me.  They had performed the spinal tap and Olivia did great (they give her sugar water--"sweeties" and she loved that), so that was good to hear.  That gets sent off for cultures so we wont know for sure for a few days, but her white blood count was elevated so they went ahead and treated for it just to be safe.  In addition she is getting antibiotics for the MRSA and they upped her oxygen to give her a little break.  She slept the better part of yesterday so each time we saw her she was sleeping or very groggy, not her usual feisty self so you could tell she was not feeling well.

To say we are thankful for all her wonderful nurses is an understatement, her night nurse that caught the infection even called in during her day off to check in our on little baby and we were able to make it back to the hospital after shift change last night to officially meet her for the first time.  And today when Marc checked in, two of her day nurses were there and one of them requested Olivia specifically, so we know she is greatly loved and cared for there.

In good news (cause even in the bad, it is not all bad), Olivia's brain scan came back showing no bleeds!  She will have another one around the 30 day mark but this is good news and we are thankful for it!  Also she was up 1.3 ounces from the day before, so she continued to put on some weight (however, they did limit her feed yesterday so that may cause a small delay in weight gain).  But we will take the good news where we can!

Snoozing away!

We hope that you will continue with us in prayer for these antibiotics to continue to work and for her healing.  That she would continue to grow and put on weight and that (if we be so bold) this would be her only major set back through this journey.  Thank you all for the love and support!  💜